Process of coking solid carbonizable material



we... Feb. 28, 1933 1,899,809

UNITED STATES PATENT orricr;

LUDWIG FERNANDO c. KERN, OI WEBSTER, GROVES, MISSOURI PROCESS OF OOKING SOLID OABIBONIZAIBLE MATERIAL I i No Drawing. Application filed June 18, 1930. Serial No. 482,126.

This invention relates to coke, and with molded into shapes or briquettes (if-the shape regard to certain more specific features, to of the product is not necessarily regular, smokeless coke and the manufacture thereof. specific molding is not necessary), dried, and

Among the several objects of the invention the dried briquettes subjected to either a highmay be noted the provision of a process for temperature or -a low-temperature distilla- 55 the manufacture of smokeless coke of a hard tion or carbonization. In the .course of the wear-resisting, homogeneous character; a carbonization, the shells around the carboprocess'wherein smoke producing binder manaceous particles harden to strengthen the terials are eliminated; a process wherein the product generally, but remain sufliciently natural gangue constituents of a coal are utiporous to permit the evolution of volatile lized as a basis for the binder material for products. The hardened shells of gangue said coal; a process which includes an ecoconstituents further serve to bind the carnomical low-temperature distillation; and a bonaceous particles, thereby preventing inprocess ofthe class described which is easily ordinate swelling and bulging, and conse- 5 and economically carriedthrough and which quent irregularity of product shape. These 65 yields products of great commercial value. shells also prevent adjacent particles of car-. Other objects will be in part obvious and in bonaceous material from. adhering to each part pointed out hereinafter. other during the lastic state of said particles The invention accordingly comprises the (at about 400 C. and from adhering to theelements and combinations of elements, steps Walls of the retort. Thegangue constituents and sequence of steps and features of synare not present in objectionable quantities in thesis which will be exemplified in the de-. the coke product, and, furthermore, in. the scription hereinafter and the scope of the b rning of the product coke, these gangue application of which will be indicated in the ns i ents are reduced to a readily-pulverv f ll i claims. I ized ash which does not clinker and prove It has been found that coal, when ground to herwise objectionable. j v a sufficient fineness, is mechanically separated Alkaline solutions are particularly valuor. detached into gangue constituents and able as plasticizing agents when the gangue carbonaceous constituents. The gangue c0nconstltutents are predominantly siliceous in stituents herein referred to are those occluded character. Examplesof the alkaline soluso in the coal, and not those chemically comiOnS wh ch may be satisfac orily used nbined. Occluded gangue constituents forma lude sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate,

preponderant majorityof the total gangue ammonium hydroxide, and the like. Q

constituents, those chemically combined being As an example of our process, the followpresent only in relatively small quantities. ing is cited: 85

This phenomena, in general, takes places at Bituminous Illinois coal is ound to a a fineness of 150 mesh or finer. 'In finely fineness of 150 meshor finer, an to the powcomminuted coal, therefore, there is present dered coal is added from 10 to 30 per cent,

in intimate mixture comminuted gangue conby weight, of a water solution of sodium hystituents and comminuted carbonaceous matedroxide of gravity 1 to 5 B. The mix- 90 rials. ture is then groundin a pug mill, wet pan, or We have found that the comminuted other convenient mixing or kneading device gangue constituents, when treated with alkauntil it is formed into a homogeneous plastic line solutions, form a plastic binding material mass of pasty consistency. The plastic mass or cement which, with suitable homogenizing, is then shaped into briquettes, for example, 95

serves to plasticize or bind the carbonaceous in an auger extrusion machine. The briparticles Into a firm, moldable mass. The quettes are preferably allowed to dry, and

lasticized gangue constituents apparently then charged into a carbonization retort.

ormashell or jacket for each carbon particle. The temperature is gradually brou ht to a 1 The plastic carbonaceous massis preferably temperatureof theorder'of 600 with i 00 attendant evolution of hydrocarbons and the like, which are preferably collected and condensed according to methods known to the art. After carbonization is complete, the briquettes are removed and cooled or quenched. v

The product is a homogeneous, even-burning, smokeless, hard coke briquette, which is adapted for use as a commercial or home fuel.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carryin out the above objects Without departing rom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: k

1. The-process of coking solid carbonizable material having gangue constituents predominantly high in silica, comprising comminuting said material to an extent sufficient to mechanically detach gangue constituents from said material, adding a plasticizing agent comprising an alkaline solution to said comminuted material, said alkaline solution reacting with the siliceous constituents of said gangue material to form a binder for the remainder of said carbonizable material and thereby to plasticize the entire mass of comminuted material, subjecting the plastic mass to a destructive distillation, and thereby forming coke.

2. The process of coking solid carbonizable material having gangue constituents predominantly high in silica, comprising comminuting said material to an extent sufficient to mechanically detach gangue constituents from said material, adding a plasticizing agent comprising a solution of sodium hydroxide to said comminuted material, said sodium hydroxide reacting with the siliceous constituents of said gangue material to form a binder for the remainder of said carbonizable material and thereby to plasticize the entire mass of comminuted material, subjecting the plastic mass to a destrl'pctive distillation, and thereby forming co e.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specificatlon this 13th day of June, 1930.

LUDWIG KERN. FERNANDO C. KERN. 

